Effects of heavy metal and disinfectant on antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factor genes in the plastisphere from diverse soil ecosystems

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 465; p. 133335
• Main Authors: Ni, Bang, Zhang, Tian-Lun, Cai, Tian-Gui, Xiang, Qian, Zhu, Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.03.2024
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotic resistome; Combined pollution; Disinfectants - pharmacology; Drug Resistance, Microbial - genetics; Ecosystem; Environmental Pollutants; Genes, Bacterial; Metals, Heavy; Plastisphere; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Soil types; Virulence factor; Combined pollution; Antibiotic resistome; Virulence factor; Soil types; Plastisphere
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133335

Antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) are world-wide contaminants posing potential health risks. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and heavy metals can apply selective pressure on antibiotic resistance. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding their coupled effect on changes in ARGs and virulence factor genes (VFGs) in various soil types and their plastispheres. Herein, we conducted a microcosm experiment to explore the abundances and profiles of ARGs and VFGs in soil plastispheres from three distinct types of soils amended with Cu and disinfectants. The plastispheres enriched the ARGs’ abundance compared to soils and stimulated the coupling effect of combined pollutants on promoting the abundances of ARGs and VFGs. Horizontal gene transfer inevitably accelerates the propagation of ARGs and VFGs in plastispheres under pollutant stress. In plastispheres, combined exposure to disinfectants and Cu increased some potential pathogens’ relative abundances. Moreover, the combined effect of disinfectants and Cu on ARGs and VFGs changed with soil type in plastispheres, emphasising the necessity to incorporate soil type considerations into health risk assessments for ARGs and VFGs. Overall, this study highlights the high health risks of ARGs under the selective pressure of combined pollutants in plastispheres and provides valuable insights for future risk assessments related to antibiotic resistance. [Display omitted] •Plastispheres enrich the abundance of ARGs compared to soils.•Plastispheres stimulate the coupling effect of combined pollutants on the ARGs and VFGs.•Combined exposure to disinfectants and Cu increases some potential pathogens’ relative abundances.•Combined effect of pollutants on ARGs and VFGs changes with soil type in plastispheres.